CAPA NEUROPEPTIDE AND ITS RECEPTOR IN INSECTS: A MINI REVIEW

Authors: SUDESHNA, THAKUR - Punjab Agricultural University; VIKAS, JINDAL - Punjab Agricultural University; Choi, Man

Submitted to: Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/9/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The Insect CAPA peptides (short protein molecules) are a type of hormone produced in nervous tissues (i.e. brain). These hormones are involved in various essential physiological functions in the insect body: regulation of urination, balance of water and ions through kidney like tubules. In addition, CAPA hormones are related to modulate stress tolerance from cold temperature, desiccation, starvation in the insect. In this review, we introduced the many case studies reported over decades to identify biological/chemical inhibitors for the CAPA hormone system as potential targets for the development of new control methods for agricultural pests.

Technical Abstract: CAPA peptides (capability) belong to the PRXaminde family of peptides, which is a major insect neuropeptide and is characterized by conserved with PRX-NH2 in their C-terminal ends (X, variable amino acids). They are involved in various physiological functions in insects through intracellular signaling cascades initiated by activation of the corresponding receptor. The CAPA receptor (CAPA-R) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), a seven-transmembrane bound protein embedded in the membrane. In this review, we describe the structure of the capa genes and encoding peptides and classify the CAPA subfamily peptides found across arthropods, and introduce the evolutionary and phylogenetic relationship of CAPA GPCRs identified to date. The localization and expression of CAPA-R is a critical to identify CAPA physiological functions, and their intracellular signaling components including the second messengers are described. Various physiological functions of CAPA peptides have been identified, including diuretic and anti-diuretic activities through the homeostatic process in a renal organ Malpighian tubules (MTs). In addition, CAPA peptides are related to modulate stress tolerance from various environmental conditions such as cold temperature, desiccation, and starvation. They are also involved in the modulation of energy homeostasis such as nutrient uptake through the muscle myotropic activity in the gut. Finally, we outlined the many case studies to identify agonists and antagonists for CAPA peptides and their receptors as potential targets for the development of new pest control methods for agricultural pests.